Dubai: Pornanong Phatlum is hoping to cap off her 25th birthday celebrations in style when she returns to defend her Omega Dubai Ladies Masters title at Emirates Golf Club from December 10-13.
The Thai golfer won last year’s Ladies European Tour (LET) season-ending event on her debut with a birdie on the final hole to finish a stroke clear of the United States’ Stacey Lewis at 15-under-par.
Phatlum now hopes to emulate the feat of Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam, the only player to have won back-to-back titles, since the tournament began in 2006.
“This [event] has the energy of a major on the Ladies European Tour,” said World No. 33 Phatlum, who has ten professional wins, including two on the LET to date.
“I really enjoyed playing in Dubai last year, and winning it on my first visit made it even more special.
“Of course, it will be great fun to be back in Dubai, a city I like very much, and have an opportunity to win two in a row, but I will try not to think about it too much. They have such a strong field every year and anyone can win at any time.
“Certainly, a strong finish, if not a victory, will be ideal soon after my birthday, but I am not too hung up on it. Of course, my goal is to win, but I can’t really control all of it. All I can do is to give my best, which I will and see what happens,” added Phatlum, who has four top ten finishes on the LPGA Tour this season, with her best finish being a tied for third at the Bahamas LPGA Classic in January.
Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, vice-chairman and CEO of organisers Golf In Dubai, said he’d be delighted to welcome “our champion” back.
“Pornanong’s dramatic rise to the upper echelon of professional golf shows how much Thailand’s investment in developing golf infrastructure is paying off handsomely,” Bu Amim said.
“With a lot of young and talented golfers emerging in the country, I won’t be surprised if Thailand becomes one of the strongest golfing nations in the near future. Pornanong’s presence will further bolster the field and I am sure fans will turn up in large numbers to watch her defend the title. I also wish her a pleasant stay in Dubai.”
